The wait is over! The ICC has officially confirmed the groups and complete fixture list for the Super Eights stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. With Pakistan becoming the last team to punch their ticket after a commanding 102-run demolition of Namibia in Colombo, the stage is set for what promises to be a thrilling knockout phase across India and Sri Lanka.
Here's everything you need to know about the Super Eights — groups, fixtures, venues, format, and key matchups to watch.
Which Teams Have Qualified for the Super Eights?
Eight teams from the initial 20 have progressed to the Super Eights after the group stage wrapped up on February 20. Here's how each team qualified:
From Group A: India (topped unbeaten, 4-0) and Pakistan (sealed spot with 102-run win over Namibia)
From Group B: Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe (Australia were shockingly knocked out)
From Group C: West Indies and England
From Group D: South Africa and New Zealand
The biggest talking point from the group stage? Australia's shock exit. The 2021 champions failed to make it past the first round, with Zimbabwe taking their pre-seeded Super Eights spot in Group 1. It marks only the second time in history that Zimbabwe have advanced past the group stage in a T20 World Cup.
Super Eights Groups
The ICC had pre-seeded eight teams for the Super Eights based on T20I rankings before the tournament. Since Australia didn't qualify, Zimbabwe stepped into their slot.
Group 1 (Matches in India)
Team | How They Qualified |
|---|---|
India | Topped Group A (4 wins, 0 losses) |
South Africa | Qualified from Group D |
West Indies | Qualified from Group C |
Zimbabwe | Qualified from Group B (replaced Australia) |
Group 2 (Matches in Sri Lanka)
Team | How They Qualified |
|---|---|
Pakistan | Qualified from Group A |
England | Qualified from Group C |
New Zealand | Qualified from Group D |
Sri Lanka | Qualified from Group B |
How Does the Super Eights Format Work?
For fans who need a quick refresher, here's how the Super Eights stage operates:
Clean slate: Every team starts with zero points. No points, wins, or net run rate from the group stage carries forward. This is massive — it means every single delivery in the Super Eights matters.
Round-robin within groups: Each team plays the other three sides in their group once, giving every team three matches to fight for a semi-final berth.
Top two advance: The top two teams from each group progress to the semi-finals.
In short, there's no room for error. One bad game could end your tournament.
Complete Super Eights Fixture List
Match 1 — February 21 (Saturday)
New Zealand vs Pakistan Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | Time: 7:00 PM IST
Match 2 — February 22 (Sunday)
England vs Sri Lanka Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy | Time: 3:00 PM IST
Match 3 — February 22 (Sunday)
India vs South Africa Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | Time: 7:00 PM IST
Match 4 — February 23 (Monday)
Zimbabwe vs West Indies Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | Time: 7:00 PM IST
Match 5 — February 24 (Tuesday)
England vs Pakistan Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy | Time: 7:00 PM IST
Match 6 — February 25 (Wednesday)
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | Time: 7:00 PM IST
Match 7 — February 26 (Thursday)
West Indies vs South Africa Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | Time: 3:00 PM IST
Match 8 — February 26 (Thursday)
India vs Zimbabwe Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | Time: 7:00 PM IST
Match 9 — February 27 (Friday)
England vs New Zealand Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | Time: 7:00 PM IST
Match 10 — February 28 (Saturday)
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy | Time: 7:00 PM IST
Match 11 — March 1 (Sunday)
Zimbabwe vs South Africa Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi | Time: 3:00 PM IST
Match 12 — March 1 (Sunday)
India vs West Indies Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Time: 7:00 PM IST
Venues for the Super Eights
The Super Eights matches are spread across India and Sri Lanka, with Group 1 matches hosted entirely in India and Group 2 matches held in Sri Lanka.
India Venues (Group 1):
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Sri Lanka Venues (Group 2):
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
The reason all Group 2 matches are in Sri Lanka? Pakistan's fixtures are scheduled entirely in Sri Lanka due to logistical and administrative arrangements between the co-host nations.
Key Matchups to Watch
India vs South Africa — February 22, Ahmedabad
This is the rematch every cricket fan has been waiting for. The last time these two met in a T20 World Cup knockout game was the 2024 final in Barbados, where India edged out the Proteas in a nail-biting finish. Expect fireworks at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
England vs Pakistan — February 24, Kandy
Two traditional heavyweights go head-to-head in what could be a decisive game for both sides' semi-final hopes. England's explosive batting lineup against Pakistan's rejuvenated bowling attack makes this a must-watch contest.
India vs West Indies — March 1, Kolkata
The final Super Eights fixture takes place at the iconic Eden Gardens. With semi-final spots potentially on the line, this could be one of the most electric atmospheres of the entire tournament.
New Zealand vs Pakistan — February 21, Colombo
The Super Eights opener features two teams who will be desperate to start strong. Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan is in red-hot form after smashing a century against Namibia, while New Zealand's pace attack will look to exploit Colombo conditions.
Semi-Finals & Final Schedule
After the Super Eights, the knockout rounds follow:
Semi-Final 1: March 4 — Eden Gardens, Kolkata Semi-Final 2: March 5 — Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Final: March 8 — Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
There's an interesting twist here — the ICC has a "Pakistan Clause" in place. If Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals or final, those matches will be shifted to the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo instead of the Indian venues.
2028 T20 World Cup Qualification Confirmed
Here's a bonus for all eight Super Eights teams — by reaching this stage, they've all automatically qualified for the T20 World Cup 2028, which will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Co-Hosts (Automatic Entry):
Australia — qualified as co-host despite their shocking group-stage exit in 2026
New Zealand — co-host + also qualified via Super 8s
Via Super 8s Qualification (T20 WC 2026): 3. India 4. Pakistan 5. Sri Lanka 6. Zimbabwe 7. West Indies 8. England 9. South Africa
The Bottom Line
The Super Eights promises to be an absolute cracker of a phase. Defending champions India look formidable with their unbeaten group-stage run, but South Africa, West Indies, and England are more than capable of pulling off upsets. In Group 2, the subcontinental conditions in Sri Lanka could give the home team and Pakistan an edge over England and New Zealand.
With every match being a virtual quarter-final, the T20 World Cup 2026 is about to shift into top gear. Don't miss a single ball!
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